From the Vicar...

I was "had"...and (with a lesson learned) I'd do it again

You may have seen in recent editions of the Portsmouth Herald and the Hampton Union that I was among nearly a dozen area clergy who got "taken in" by a con artist seeking funds to attend to his brother's recent "death" on Long Island. It was only when he went to the same church (in Kensington) a second time that his scam was discovered. I was among at least a half dozen of my colleagues who pressed charges.

I didn't think much of it when a man who said his name was Joseph Grieco appeared at my door last month, and claimed to be mourning the death of his brother. He genuinely seemed saddened by his brother's death and he told his story in a way that seemed to pass the "smell test." So you can imagine how shocked I was when I saw Grieco's booking photo in the newspaper the morning after he was arrested.

After reporting his appearance in my Trinity office to the Hampton police, I learned that investigators weren't able to find any death records to confirm his story. As convincingly as he may have told it, it simply wasn't true. My colleagues and I had been "had," pure and simple.

You may wonder how I could have been so fooled. After all, I've been a priest for three decades - and have pretty good "scam radar." But, as I told the Herald reporter that Friday, "Most of the time if you get somebody who's not on the up-and-up they tend to overdo it. They tell you so much detail, sometimes you can catch them with something that doesn't ring true." Put honestly, Grieco was pretty skilled at his story-telling. He didn't over-tell his story - he seemed to be the "real deal."

So... what have I learned from this experience? First of all, I've learned that I really need to follow my own rules. I have long had a policy of not giving direct aid to a person seeking help, but to find ways to help indirectly. If they need help with a utility bill or rent, pay the utility or the landlord, not the person. In this case I didn't do that. Secondly, make sure you get some kind of I.D. on the person. If I had seen that he was from Methuen, Mass., and not Hampton, as he made it seem, I would have known something was "off."

That said, though, it is not beyond possibility that I'd do something like I did that day again. As my colleague at the Methodist Church put it, ninety-eight percent of the time, the people seeking my aid are "legit." I can't let my caution in a case like this close me off to being the agent of Christ's love and compassion I am, by my baptism as well as my ordination, called to be. There will be people who try to take from the church. That's just reality. But with some prudent policies for trying to avoid being taken, I hope to continue being here for those who really need help. And I thank you for your continued generosity to the Vicar's Discretionary Fund, which allows me to provide that help.

Faithfully,

Fr. Chip

Road Closures in Hampton on Sunday, Oct. 5

On Sunday, Oct. 5, there will be several road closures in Hampton due to a road race being held that morning. Specifically, the beach end of High St. will be closed from 8:00-9:30 a.m. If you are coming from the beach end of town, take Route 101 to Route 1 to High St. (Note: Cutting over by way of Landing Rd. from Route 101 will also be impossible, as Winnacunnet Rd. will also be closed.) 

Daytime Bible Study Starts Oct. 6 at Trinity Church

Interested in exploring the Bible, but can't attend Wednesday night's fascinating session? Then this may be for you. Beginning Monday, Oct. 6th, I will be leading a Bible Study in the Guild Room in Hobbs House from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15. We will initially meet during late Pentecost. No need to attend every session. No previous Bible Study experience necessary. "Come and See."  

David Plank+

Coming Up In Our Inquirers' Classes

Due to the travel plans of some of those who have been coming to our weekday evening series, we have changed our schedule for the coming weeks. Here are the revised dates for our next two sessions:

Tuesday, Oct. 14: The Sacraments: Baptism and Confirmation - 7 p.m. at Christ Church

Thursday, Oct. 23: The Sacraments: Holy Eucharist and the Other Sacramental Rites beginning with an "Instructed Eucharist" in the Christ Church Chapel at 6:30 p.m.

Remaining sessions will be Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Christ Church as previously scheduled.

Meanwhile, the Rev. David Plank will be starting a somewhat less formal Inquiry program at Trinity Church starting this Sunday, Oct. 5 after coffee hour. The first session will be an overview, asking input as to what peoples' questions are. Subsequent sessions will respond to those questions and continue through the end of November.

Upcoming Dates

Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer

Each week, in both of our churches, we pray for one ministry we share and one or two households in each church. About once every six weeks, we will instead using the Shared Ministry Collect we prayed throughout the opening months of our Shared Ministry.

In our prayers the next two weeks, we give God thanks for...

Blessing of the Animals - Oct. 5 at Christ Church

On Sunday, Oct. 5 at 12:00 noon, children and adults are invited to celebrate God's creation through a special "Blessing of the Animals" service, to be held on behalf of both congregations on the Christ Church lawn. Oct. 5 is the Sunday nearest the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4), and in Episcopal churches across the country, people of all ages are being encouraged to bring their pets for a blessing as a way of honoring that gentle saint's memory.

Francis was known not only for his humility, but his love of God's creation. At the Blessing of the Animals service that day, you are invited to bring your cats or dogs, hamsters, gerbils, fish, rabbits or birds to receive God's blessing. More exotic species, such as snakes, turtles, or lizards, are also welcome, as long as they are caged for their own as well as the congregation's safety.

Fr. Chip will call all who have pets at home, but forgot to bring them, forward for a blessing to "send home" - or you may bring a stuffed animal as a "stand-in." You are encouraged to invite friends to join you that day, either to witness the blessing of your pet or to bring pets of their own for a blessing.

"Anchored Together in Christ"                          

2014 Joint Stewardship Campaign for Christ Church, Portsmouth and Trinity Church, Hampton

Over the next several weeks we will explore God's vision for Christ Church and Trinity Church and invite members to prayerfully determine God's will for the gifts and resources with which they have been blessed. Here are some highlights of our plans for this year's "Anchored Together in Christ" campaign: 

• Each Sunday from Oct. 19 through Nov. 9, bulletin inserts written by Episcopal stewardship leaders across the country will provide reflections on stewardship and faithful giving. There will also be two mailings going out the weeks of Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.
• Each Sunday, throughout that same period, we will hear personal thankfulness stories to learn first-hand how your fellow parishioners have flourished in their faith through intentional giving of their financial resources.
• Nov. 9th will be "Consecration Sunday" - the day we ask you to return the pledge form you receive in our second mailing, which goes out Nov. 3.
• In the weeks following Consecration Sunday, our Stewardship Team will do follow-up with those from whom we have not heard, so we'll have the final results to share with our Bishop's Committee by November's end.

 As we seek to lay our plans for the next phase of our shared mission, let us join together to do God's work.

Gifts for ChIPs

Under everyday normal circumstances being a teenager isn't always easy. Now imagine being a teen who has an incarcerated parent who they will be missing on Christmas.

As Diocesan Convention approaches, we are given an amazing opportunity to reach out and help. Children of Incarcerated Parents (ChIPs) is a diocesan program that provides Christmas presents (toys and books) for children ages birth to 18 whose parents are in prison. Every age is important when it comes to this program, but we hold a special place for the teenagers, who often get overlooked when folks go toy shopping for this program.

If you would like to make a donation for the ChIPs Christmas giving there will be a special collection box at each church on Oct. 19 & 26 and Nov. 2.